pinger change availability of host

[gescheit]

This patch for zabbix 1.4.1. I made that pinger(simple check: icmppingsec, icmpping) change status of host.
Патч для zabbix 1.4.1. Теперь при пинговании хоста через simple check меняется состояние хоста. Не знаю почему это не было сделано раньше.

[Alexei]

The patch is not really correct. Failed ping does not immediately means that a host is unavailable.

I think that ZABBIX has to be improved in order to track several levels of host availability (icmp ping, passive checks, active checks, SNMP, etc). I do not know how to implement it though.

[gescheit]

And what does it mean if a host is not pinging? I think if host not pinging this means that he is not available.

A correct what if the host is not responding to snmp this means that he is not available?
(Sorry for my english )

[kloczek]

And what does it mean if a host is not pinging? I think if host not pinging this means that he is not available.

If you will have blocaded ICMP packets on firewall this will does not mean host is not avalaible.
If a host is not pinging its mean it does not pinging .. nothing more.

[gescheit]

First, no blocking. Second, if you block SNMP will also be means that the host is not available. Third, if you deny 10050 port will also be means that the host is unavailable.
Even if the host is not included snmp zabbix it believes it off.

[Alexei]

Gescheit, what is your definition of host unavailability? Just wondering...

[gescheit]

Pings determines available or not remote host. (read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping). Also TCP(like tcp,23) check show status of host.

If the host is not responding to snmp(zabbix agent) it does not mean that host is not available, it is likely that there snmp(zabbix agent) is off.

[welkin]

I think ping is an simple tool to determine the status of a host because it is "your" network which you want to monitor and in this case if a host is not pingable, it is likely down (in your own network you wouldn't block icmpping if you use it for status calculation).
Another nice alternative could be to set manual a bunch of items(or just one) which should determine the status.
It could be possible to connect triggers with the status of a host e.g. that a certain trigger (or more than one) determine the status of a host . This would add even more flexibility to zabbix.

mfg
welkin

[gescheit]

It would be wonderful if I could choose what kind of testing is changing status of host. I just do first small step for this.

Question : If the host not have SNMP and it is impossible to install zabbix agent, his status will always be "Unknown" ?

[Alexei]

Another nice alternative could be to set manual a bunch of items(or just one) which should determine the status.
It could be possible to connect triggers with the status of a host e.g. that a certain trigger (or more than one) determine the status of a host . This would add even more flexibility to zabbix.

I agree with you very much on this. I think that host availability will be implemented in a similar way in newer major releases of ZABBIX.